Posted on 10/28/2005 2:16:32 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson
CHICAGO (AP) -- The party was in full swing.
Two days after the White Sox swept Houston for their first World Series title since 1917, the team hit Chicago's streets Friday for a ticker-tape parade and rally.
Double-decker buses filled with players, coaches and their families left U.S. Cellular Field as hundreds of fans cheered. And they kept cheering all the way to the Loop for a celebration and a parade. There, one after another, the players and team officials took turns thanking the fans.
``Chicago, second city no more,'' said Paul Konerko, the first baseman who brought team owner Jerry Reinsdorf to tears when he presented him the ball he caught for the last out of the World Series.
``Getting this ball from Paul Konerko is the most emotional moment of my life,'' Reinsdorf said.
One of the first to speak was Frank Thomas, for years the team's best player, but who missed much of the season and all of the playoffs with an injury.
``Chicago should really appreciate this and understand what this is all about,'' said Thomas, who was handed the World Series trophy by general manager Kenny Williams. ``This is the pinnacle.''
Mayor Richard Daley, a lifelong White Sox fan, clearly agreed.
``I am pleased to say 2005 world champs, the Chicago White Sox,'' he shouted to the crowd.
The fans, many of whom had waited for hours and were streaming into downtown even as the players were appearing on the ``Oprah Winfrey Show,'' roared with every player introduction. Tens of thousands of fans, sporting black, white and silver White Sox hats, jerseys and jackets, packed the downtown area.
Many waved team flags, black and white balloons, white socks, their faces painted black and white. Others clamored onto light poles and utility boxes for a better view of the ceremony, while dozens stood perched on the oversized windowsills of City Hall along the parade route.
Children with faces painted black and white stood shoulder to shoulder with officer workers in suits and ties, straining for a glimpse of the players.
``We all woke up at 6 a.m. and we painted our faces and we came down here,'' said Jimmy Aguayo, 16, of Steamwood, who skipped school with four friends to attend the rally. ``We got a spot against the rail, we saw our favorite players, we took pictures and it was just fantastic.''
Across the Chicago River, hundreds of fans lined the top level of a parking garage for a view. Above the crowd, office workers looked on from high rises, some pressing White Sox signs to their windows. And above them, F-16s flew over as part of the tribute to the team.
Andy Wilson, like many of the tens of thousands who turned downtown into a giant block party, was playing hooky from work to take part in a celebration of a championship that he still doesn't quite believe really happened.
Exhausted from staying up late into the night to watch the games on television -- something that didn't even exist the last time the White Sox won the World Series -- Wilson said it may not be until this winter when the White Sox victory sinks in.
``When I'm at a bar enjoying a beer, saying 'our world champion Chicago White Sox,' that's when it's really going to hit me.''
It hadn't quite sunk in for Williams, either.
``It's really kind of overwhelming,'' he said before the team left U.S. Cellular Field for the Loop.
Steve Perry, who co-wrote the song the White Sox took as their theme, ``Don't Stop Believin,'' was also on hand and led the team in a rendition of the song.
``They've always believed,'' Perry said.
Konerko talked about how many didn't believe the team could do what it did. He thought about how the players might be able to win over doubters.
``The only thing I could come up with is maybe we'll have to do this one more time next year,'' he said.
Really? Who'd the Flubs play today? 8^)
No Big Papi is not Solid enough at first. I would go for Konerko. Though he will command more money I would assume. The sox have lacked power from their corners for some time. Muellar although a solid hitter and very good with the glove will never hit 30+ home runs. That said I like Muellar and wish he would stay, but I think he is gone. Millar on the other hand is an average first baseman and he is good for 18-20 homer's a year in a good year. It also appears that he is gone as well, which I have no problem with. Sure he is a nice guy and is good for the clubhouse but he isnt productive enough. Not to mention he cant hit to the opposite field to save his life.
The Wong Brothers Laundry in Chinatown has the contract to wash all of the Chicago White Sox baseball uniforms. The Wong brothers got the contract by telling the owner of the Chicago White Sox, "If you bring us a dirty baseball uniform, two Wongs will make it white".
I agree..I was about 50 yards away from the stage..only bad part of the day was the speaker glitch, we couldnt hear the players or anything. That was more than made up for as when we were leaving we went one block west to Clark and we were right on the barricades as the team was leaving..I got some real good close-up shots of the team (I'll post them later tonight)...Aaron Rowand looked right at me and gave me a thumbs up...that was too cool!!!! In all,a great,great day!
CHICAGOLAND PING per Charles Henrickson
The only thing I didn't care for was Ozzie walking around like a pendejo grande with that Venezuelan flag. I hope he doesn't try to pull any crap at the White House.
And I thought this board was moderated! Is this kind of racist humor tolerated? Even when it's this corny? :-o
I couldn't find an estimate of the amount of people. All of the retarded media said "thousands"... when you and I both know there were hundreds of thousands. If they add up all the people, from the thousands at the cell to Wacker and LaSalle there was well over 1.5 million.
I like the fact that the parade first went through the neighborhoods on the South Side before going downtown. I think that's great.
Konerko doesn't want to play on the East Coast. If the Angels will come up with the money, he'll most likely end up there.
Afterall, we paid for it.
Oh, well, I'll make an exception this time, but this time only, LOL.
Leni
Woo-Hoo! Congratulations again, White Sox fans! Looks like the big parade we had in Boston last year for the Red Sox... :o)
Chicago ping
Local news here(ABC)said it was 1.75 million.
Wow.
I see you are posting more and more pics...this is great...I cannot be there in Chicago, so these pics are the next best thing....every pic makes me smile...I always love to pics of my old hometown, Chicago...
Thanks Leapfrog, its a great day for Chicago fans, be they from
the South side, or the North side it doesn't matter.
Chicago has a World Series Championship....OH YA
Not this Cubs fan.....I think you're mistaken on that one
On the subject of 1B, I'd rather trade for Glaus and pay him for 3 years to play 1B, or else have a patchwork at 1B and go after the nearly half-dozen incredible 1B FAs next offseason. Derrek Lee would look S-W-E-E-T in red and white, eh?
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